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  1. Home > BLOG > Water Softener

15 Dec. 2022

How To Know The Right Size For My Residental Water Softeners

 

The Best Water Softener is a Simple Water Softener. High quality with big savings. No salesman, no sales commission added to cost. We supply all information, you do a little research to discover it is a high quality water softener with expert installation. A softener with a warranty a phone call away.

When sizing a unit, you want it to regenerate no sooner than a week. You need to know the hardness of your water, number of people living in the house and the number of bathrooms will all play a factor in determining the size of the unit.

Water Softener size (Single Tanks) For Average households

Around 17 grains hard is used in calculation

30,000 known as 30K     1 to 2 people, up to two bathrooms

Would regenerate every 7 to 12 days Approximately.

45,000 known as 45K    2 to 4  people, up to two bathrooms

Would regenerate every  7 to 12 days Approximately

60,000 known as 60K    4 to 5 people (Approximately)

Would regenerate about every 7 to 9 days

After this size, we would have to get a few more questions answered about your family’s situation. There are other configurations we could use to make more efficient.

Simple Water Softener store can custom-build your family the best water softener and whole house filtration with significant savings to you. We use only high-quality parts in the industry to build our units. Our systems are built to last with low cost operating expense.

Clack valves (Made in the USA, No proprietorship on parts, can be worked on by anyone experienced in the water filtration industry.)

Enpress and Clack Tanks (Both Made in the USA)

Resin-High Grade 8% and 10%

Professional installation.

Want filtered water to every faucet? No more chlorine in your shower-on washed vegetables or when cooking, and none in the pet’s bowls. Whole house filtration added to the water softener is the answer.

Give us a call, we will be happy to give you as much information as possible on the phone. Or if you have time, come by the showroom, equipment is on display, and we will be happy to go over all your options.

Do not know Hardness, give us a call.

 

Number of people        +       Water Hardness    =   Total Grains

Living in House                                                          Removed Weekly

(This is an approximate calculator)

 

The formula would be a number of people multiply by 65 by hardness by eight equals total to be removed in a week. Simply an estimate.

Want formula to send to correct page for size. My Brandon says he can make formula in Excel.

 

 

Important Questions When Buying a Water Softener

3 Major Components. Valve, Tank, Resin

What kind of valve? We use Clack

Where is it made? USA has been in business since 1946. Major worldwide company.

Who works on it? Clack just about everyone.

Does it have proprietary parts? Clack no.

Tank is what kind? We use Enpress and Clack.

Where is tank made? USA

What grade of Resin? We use 8% and 10%  (higher the grade, longer it lasts.)

Who does install? A certified, experienced, and friendly technician will promptly install.

What kind of license do they have? Certified by the state of Texas as Class III water specialist.

Insured? Just give us a call, we take care of it. We have an office, you will know where to find us.

Install to code?

  • By:Lisa Bauer

17 Nov. 2022

Hardest Working Appliance in the House

A water softener is the hardest working appliance in the house. However, this is the only device that so many will try to go the cheap way.

A water softener protects your biggest investment, YOUR HOME. Protects everything that hard water touches. The hot water heater is greatly affected by hard water. It can shorten the lifespan drastically. The washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, coffee pots, faucets, glass in the showers are all affected by hard water and not in a good way, it’s just expensive.

Your clothes, bedding fade faster, stiffen and dull much faster. All these items are expensive to maintain or replace because of hard water. Your hair and skin are dry, even hard water stings you. However, people will go to the big box store and if it has a household name, they will buy a water softener. These are the poorest quality units which can only be used for an average of 9 months or 4 years before it is disposed of and replaced.

Remember, San Antonio has some of the hardest water in the United States. There is a difference in how inexpensive water softeners work and how higher quality one’s work. Short term solution or long-term solution.

Many will remember the $650.00 purchase price but forget the $450 installation fee. Quality water softeners give you 24-hour protection against hard water. Quality Water Softeners will last up to 4-5 times longer. When sized right, it will supply soft water to all baths and fixtures at the right flow rate for your home. It will regenerate every 7-10 days max, and some will go further. Making it more efficient to sustain salt and water usage over a long period of time. Therefore, a higher quality system will save you a lot in the long run.

Protect what you own from hard water. At Simple Water Softeners, we’ll give you quality at a very affordable price. Call Lisa for more information or send us an email.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
What is in your water softener

12 Oct. 2022

What is in your water softener?

You need to know what is in your water softener. It all sounds good when you buy it but years down the line when you need work done to it, you do not remember what is in there. What type of media and what quantity of each is very important.

Once media has been mixed together and years later when someone opens it up they can only guess what all is in there. At Simple Water Softeners, we do not mix media. We feel the correct way is to put different media in a different tank. Medias, resin, carbon, KDF it all has different life spans. So when mixing together in a single tank you cannot change out the different medias as they actually expire. Most people will end up waiting for the resin to go bad and then replace everything. But the carbon expired four to six years prior to that. Know how much media of each and the life span. It does no good to have something that will only last 6 months, yet you change in 8 years.  Just as anything, there is a vast number of brands with all different levels of quality. 

If you have an iron breaker, it is very important to know what media you have in the tank. People will get a new well and run an extensive water analysis. The equipment is set up for the results. But again years later, probably 10 to 12 the media needs to exchanged out for new. The majority of houses just need the basic media, but if yours has something special, unless you run a new water analysis you may not get the correct replacement. So, know what was put into your tanks.

Take care of your water softener is to take care of your loved ones, so call the experts for a consultation about your water softener media. Don’t hesitate! Call us now at (210) 960-2555 or email us at lisa@simplewatersofteners.com

  • By:Lisa Bauer
Why is a Water Softener important in San Antonio and Hill Country Texas.

06 Sep. 2022

Why is a Water Softener important in San Antonio and Hill Country Texas.

If you’re a resident of San Antonio and Hill Country Texas, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing the chalky marks on your dishware after washing, and minerals that are crusty and keep your countertops and faucets from appearing sparkling clean.

The water from the underground source is filtered through limestone and has significant amounts of dissolved minerals, typically magnesium and calcium when it is pumped out of the ground. The mineral content is commonly known as water hardness. The San Antonio area has one of the highest hardness levels in the United States. So, if you reside in this region of Texas and don’t have a water softener for your water there is probably hard water that is flowing through the pipes in your house.

The fact that your home has hard water, does it suggest you require a softener for your water? In the end, water that is hard is safe to bathe and drink in. If you’re willing to deal with the additional scrubbing required to keep your home clean, dull hair, stiff laundry it is possible to be content without the use of a water softener?

The problems caused by hard water can eventually turn expensive. Hard water may cause the formation of limescale in your pipes, which could cause corrosion, and ultimately the need for expensive repairs. Additionally, this accumulation of scaly deposits can make your water heater and other water-related appliances to use 20% more power more than if they have properly conditioned water. This can cause the premature breakdown of your appliances. Water heaters, coffee pots, faucets, ice makers, toilets Our highly trained experts will assess the hardness of your water and offer the highest quality, long-lasting systems for water filtration that can give you constant protection against the harm of hard water. 

Here’s the list of things to think about water softening for water treatment

  1. Conserves the plumbing systems. If hard water is not treated and the pipes get hard scale build up causes lack in water pressure to deterioration of the pipes. Water softeners will protect the pipes within your home. 
  2. Saving time cleaning. Your time is valuable. Use half the cleaning products. Everything stays newer and cleaner looking without all the elbow grease.
  3. Hot water heaters use 20% less energy to heat the water and they will last twice as long.
  4. Soft Water is better for everything the water touches.
  • Your skin and hair will feel so much better.
  • Coffee pots are not disposable every six months.  
  • Shower heads do not have the crusty white that you cannot get off.
  • Shower glass stays looking clear.
  • Toilets do not have white ring inside you fight to get rid of.

Contact us today to talk about your water and what we can do for you to have the best water possible for your family.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
Water Softener Tank

06 May. 2022

Most Common Issue When Water Softener is not Working

The good news is that water softeners are much easier to troubleshoot than they used to be, and while water softener repair can be challenging, with the right kind of knowledge, you can fix even the most common issues when your water softener is not working and get it back up and running in no time.

We know all about the most common issue with water softeners. With so much humidity in the air when you put too much salt in the brine tank, salt will get hard and caked together. The Water Softener unit will regenerate and wash the salt out of the bottom of the tank during cycle. The salt above the water line has gotten hard and caked together so, it will not fall to the bottom of the tank. You can kick on the bottom of tank and you will actually hear it is hollow and you will have to break up the salt and make it fall to the bottom.

Remember a lot of brine tank have a plastic plate at the bottom. It is about 6 inches from the bottom so, do not poke the broomstick to the bottom of tank or you will damage this plate. Use a broomstick or something try to break up the salt, if it is not breaking up get a pitcher of very hot water, and pour on the inside of the tank around the edges and then tap around the edges of tank. You will see it fall to the bottom. Some people give the brine tank one swift kick and they will see fall to the bottom. If you need more help there is videos on You Tube “How to break up a salt bridge”.

The Water Softener unit needs brine water “Salty Water” to wash the resin during regeneration to make the calcium let go of the resin bead so it can be washed down the drain at the water softener. So, if there is no salt at the bottom of tank to dissolve it will not have brine water, just plain water. This is because plain water does nothing to remove the calcium from the beads so, it will regenerate but the calcium will not let go of the beads. When it finishes regenerating the water starts to pass by the beads but have no place to stick to the beads because they are full of calcium so, the calcium comes into the house and you have hard water.

If you find a salt bridge, break it up then you need to do a manual regeneration cycle. Bur remember it takes salty water brine water. The salt and water need to sit for a while about 4 hours, it will regenerate the cold water will be soft. If you had hard water for a few days the hot water will take a few days.

If you find no salt bridge you will need to have your system looked at. Simple Water Softeners repairs many brands just give us a call (210) 960-2555 we will see if we can help you out.

 

  • By:watersofteners
10 Benefits of Having a Water Softener in San Antonio Texas

05 Feb. 2022

7 Benefits of Having a Water Softener in San Antonio, Texas.

If you live in an area with hard water like San Antonio, Texas, using hard water to wash your clothes, bathe, or cook can leave you with build-up of soap residue and mineral deposits on your skin, hair, and clothing. A water softener can help you prevent this buildup, which is why water softeners are so common in areas with hard water and become even more popular during the cold winter months when everything seems to be covered in a layer of ice and snow! Here’s how a water softener helps with hard water from Hill Country Water Softeners of San Antonio, Texas.

7 Benefits of Having a Water Softener

1. Installing a Water Softener with a Whole House filter.

While most people think of hard water as being unsightly, it is actually more than just an annoyance. It can cause problems for your plumbing and your home in general. If you’re tired of dealing with hard water, there are solutions for it—and one of them is installing a whole-house water softener system. This system can make drinking healthier, better tasting water easy. Here’s how to get started

2. Saving Money on Your Electric Bill

While a little bit of hard water isn’t necessarily harmful, San Antonio and surrounding areas the hardness is too high. Without a water softener the calcium will build up quickly in your hot water heater. It will take about 24% more energy for your hot water heater to function. It will also shorten the life of the hot water heater greatly. You will void your warranty if you own a tank less in our area if you do not have a water softener.

3. Showering in Clean Chemical Free Water

The city adds chlorine, chloramine or chloride to your water to kill bacteria while it is in route to your house. There is also herbicides, pesticides, and organics in your water.  Water Softener will remove the hardness of the water by changing salt into sodium chloride, which removes excess minerals and chemicals from you shower water. Making soft water come into the house.

The Whole House Filter will remove the chlorine, chloramine, chloride, pesticides, herbicides and organics. About 80 contaminants from your water. This process ensures that you don’t have hard water or that you have the chemicals on your skin or in your lungs. Skin irritation for those sensitive to chemicals (e.g., eczema). A water softener and whole house will remove what is irritating your skin. Hardness that dries you out and the chemicals that are inflaming your condition. keeps you from scratching away at rashes.

4. Cleaner Laundry (Reduced Chlorine Stains)

One of the biggest issues caused by hard water is that it can leave behind mineral deposits in your laundry. These deposits make your whites look dingy and yellow, stiff and they will fade quicker. A water softener removes these excess minerals from your water supply, which helps your expensive clothing, linens etc. stay brighter, softer, and last longer.

5. Clearer Skin and Hair

With its drying effects, hard water can have an adverse effect on your skin and hair. People living in areas where there is hard water use up to twice as much shampoo and conditioner just to keep their hair looking good—not to mention regular visits to dermatologists because of skin issues related to hard water. With your new water softener, you’ll be able to finally get rid of those dull locks and dry patches on your face.

6. Reducing Mineral Build Up

The presence of mineral deposits in your home’s water can cause white residue to appear on shower glass, faucets, dishes and hard water stains in the toilettes. The minerals build up in all appliances that use water. Hot water heaters are very affected by hard water build up. (No water softener in San Antoni and surrounding areas you should drain hot water heater every six months). The washing machine, dishwashers, steam irons, and yes those expensive coffee pots without removing the excessive hard water minerals in San Antonio you are shortening the life of all. With a water softener the calcium and magnesium are removed from your household’s tap water supply. Everything in the house is protected.

7. Keeping Plumbing Pipes Free from White Deposits

Your hard water can be damaging to your pipes. If you have any white deposits on your showerhead, faucets or drain pipes, that’s an indication of how much sediment is building up in your water supply. Prevent these deposits by installing a water softener system; you’ll enjoy cleaner, clearer and more pleasing-to-the-eye water.

For more information about our Water Softeners and Whole House Filter please call Lisa at (210) 960-2555.

 

 

  • By:watersofteners
Salt or Potassium Water Softeners

27 Oct. 2020

Salt or Potassium?

This is a common question, all water softeners will work off either one. Salt and potassium used to be close in cost but that is not the case anymore. There is a large price difference in them anymore for example Salt prices is average $6 and Potassium is $23. Water Softener system will use the same amount with salt or potassium so most people use salt.

People who are on very low sodium diets need to contact their doctor to find out what is best for them. If it is too much sodium for their health, then the option is to have a reverse osmosis system that will remove 97.5% of the sodium in the water. It is more economical to maintain the reverse osmosis than regenerating with potassium. Most people on city water with city sewage do use salt on the other hand Potassium will help our environment.

People who have septic tanks may also consider using potassium. Look into where the drain is going from the water softener. Some builders will drain to the ground somewhere. Other builders drain to the septic tank. Newer septic tanks have a fourth chamber just for the water softener. If it is lateral find out where the lateral lines are.

High content of sodium is not good for vegetation. If you have an aerobic system that will be spaying out from your septic to protect your vegetation and some trees you may consider using potassium. You have to try and see what works for you. Some people who have a large area will consider using salt and drain the water softener off to a specific area and make a rock garden where they can contain the salt in one specific area. Talk to your septic tank people and discuss your options. It seems there is no set rules each septic tank company will have their own views.

This will be decisions you will need to make for yourself each situation will bring its own special issues. 

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at Simple Water Softeners. You can call (210) 960-2555 or use this contact us form.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
A Water Softener in San Antonio is an insurance for your home

29 Sep. 2020

A Water Softener is an insurance for your home in San Antonio

We all have an insurance, from Health, Auto, Home, right? so, make sure to have it for all the appliances that use water in your house and everything that the water touches in your home if you don’t have a good Water Softener. In San Antonio and surrounding areas, a home without a softener will suffer the ugly consequences. A Water Softener is one of the most important appliances you will own, it is like an insurance policy for everything dealing with water in your house.

A good water softener protects the plumbing in your house and keeps the pipes from becoming full of limestone. The first appliance the water softener protects is the hot water heater. An average cost for a hot water heater is $1,800 not to mention you may end up with a cold shower. Have no water softener with the water as hard as it is in San Antonio you will need to drain your hot water heater at least twice a year. If you have a tankless make sure you read your warranty since most companies void your warranty if the water is more than 10.5 grains hard if there is no softener. Your hot water heater uses approximately 25% more electricity when there is no softener.

The expensive appliances that we all buy today like the upgraded washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, coffee machines and steam machines all have a longer life with a water softener and work more efficiently. Even the bathrooms with the expensive faucets, shower doors, upgraded vanities keep their spa quality looks. Clothes, linens, and towels are also expensive and you want to keep them looking newer brighter and softer for a longer time period.

Hair, skin and laundry are so much better with a water softener, your kids will have bubbles and more bubbles and there is significant savings in soaps and cleaning products. Many people buys a low-grade water softener or something that works intermittently. More over people think because the unit is using salt it is working and is Not always true. Buy a water softener that has quality parts and you will be problem free for many years, also look for water Softeners with quality parts can be repaired. Quality water softeners set up correctly and sized properly will be much more cost efficient over the years.

With the right water softener you are protecting more than you could think, so give us a call and let us help to protect and preserve what you have worked so hard for. At Simple Water Softeners we feel everyone in San Antonio and surrounding areas should have a quality softener with the substantial savings. We offer our customers the most affordable water softener in San Antonio. Give us a call today at (210) 960-2555.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
Clack By-pass Valve

16 Jul. 2020

Know how to By-pass your Water Softener

It is important to know how to by-pass your water softener and everybody should know this. There are several different by-pass valves. Some you must push something, others you turn knobs. It is very important for you to figure this out before you have an emergency and realize you do not know how to do it.

The Clack valve comes with a high quality easy to use by-pass, two red handles on the back of unit.

  • When they are straight with the lines they are in service.

 

Water Softener unit in service

Unit in service

  • When they are sideways with the lines it is on by-pass.

 

Water Softener on by-pass

Unit on by-pass

The red handles have a more pointy end to the handles, so when they are pointing towards each other the unit is by-passed. When unit is by-passed, the water is no longer going through the system and the water is coming straight from the meter. So, if you have any issues with the water softener you can by-pass it.

If you have a white by-pass you are to push in the by-pass. Others have a solid black one with two dials, you turn  both a quarter turn and it will by-pass. The units will say by-pass and arrow will dedicate direction to turn.

If you want to know more about Water Softener By-pass, don’t hesitate to contact us at Simple Water Softeners. You can call Lisa (210) 960 2555.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
  • By-pass
Save your hot water heater

26 Jun. 2020

Do not pass out!!!

Do you live in San Antonio?. Save your hot water heater, the average replacement of a hot water heater is $2,000.

With the hard water in San Antonio (average is 18 GPG) you are shortening the life of your hot water heater by 30% if you don’t have water softener. If you have a hot water heater with a tank and have no water softener you should be draining the hot water heater every 6 months to maintain it to its optimal potential.

When scale builds up in the hot water heater it takes 30% more energy to heat the water. Your heating elements must work so much harder when they are caked in calcium.

If you have a tankless system, read your warranty, when your water is harder than 10 to 11 you void your warranty.

It’s best to have a qualified and trusted water softener professional help with your water softener needs and Simple Water Softeners Co. will gladly be of assistance. If you want more information please give us a call at (210) 960-2555 or email us at lisa@simplewatersofteners.com.

  • By:Lisa Bauer
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  • How To Know The Right Size For My Residental Water Softeners 15 Dec 2022
  • Hardest Working Appliance in the House 17 Nov 2022
  • What is in your water softener? 12 Oct 2022
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  • How To Know The Right Size For My Residental Water Softeners
  • Hardest Working Appliance in the House
  • What is in your water softener?
  • Is Your Pet’s Water Safe?
  • Why is a Water Softener important in San Antonio and Hill Country Texas.

WHY SIMPLE?

Abel and Lisa have worked in the water softener industry for more than 25 years combined. Abel is certified by the state of Texas as a Class III water specialist and focuses on repairs and installs.

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San Antonio, Texas 78260

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